Precinct caucuses this year for Minnesota political parties are scheduled for Feb. 2, approximately a month earlier than people may be used to.

This year the state primary election has also been moved up from its normal September date to a mid-summer time, so the caucuses have also been moved up.

Caucuses are held for each political party to allow citizens to take part in basic political organizing. This year, candidates for governor in both parties will be seeking support.

In the Todd and Wadena county areas, most activity is limited to the Republican and DFL parties.

DFL’ers will cast a gubernatorial-preference ballot between 7 and 8 p.m.

Statewide, all caucuses are slated to begin at 7 p.m.

Todd County

DFL

The DFL Party has announced the locations of the Feb. 2, 2010, statewide caucuses. The northern Todd County locations are:

o BERTHA-Hewitt Public School Cafeteria: Bartlett Twp, Bertha, Bertha Twp, Germania Twp, Hewitt, Stowe Prairie

o EAGLE Valley Early Childhood Classroom: Burleene Twp, Clarissa, Eagle Bend, Eagle Valley Twp, Wykeham Twp

o BROWERVILLE Elementary Library: city of Browerville, Hartford Twp, Iona Twp, Little Elk Twp, Turtle Creek Twp, Ward Twp

o STAPLES Motley High School Cafeteria: Fawn Lake Twp, Moran Twp, city of Staples, Staples Twp, Villard Twp

o LPGE High School Commons Area: Bruce Twp, Long Prairie, Long Prairie Twp, Reynolds Twp

Questions should be directed to Allan Perish or Retha Dooley.

Republican

o BERTHA Hewitt High School Library: Bartlett, Bertha, Germania, and Stowe Prairie Townships and city of Bertha.

o STAPLES Elementary School Library: city of Staples and Staples, Fawn Lake, Villard and Moran townships.

o BROWERVILLE High School Library: Ward, Turtle Creek, Little Elk and Hartford townships and city of Browerville.

o CLARISSA City Hall (east entrance): Iona and Eagle Valley townships and city of Clarissa.

o EAGLE Valley High School Ind. Arts room: Burleene and Wykeham townships and city of Eagle Bend.

Wadena County

Republican

The Wadena County Republican Party caucuses will be held at the following locations.

o WADENA MSCTC (Wadena campus) Cafeteria for Leaf River and Wadena townships and city of Wadena precincts 1, 2 and 3.

o MENAHGA City Hall for Blueberry, Huntersville and Shell River townships and city of Menahga.

o SEBEKA High School Media Center: cities of Nimrod and Sebeka and Lyons, Meadow, North Germany, Orton, Red Eye and Rockwood townships.

o VERNDALE School Library: Aldrich, Verndale and Staples cities; Aldrich, Bullard, Thomastown and Wing River townships.

DFL

Caucus locations for Wadena County DFL members will include:

o STAPLES Central Lakes College Campus Commons Area: City of Staples, Thomastown, Bullard and Aldrich townships and Aldrich city.

o WADENA High School Media Center: Wadena city (all precincts), Verndale city, Wadena, Leaf River and Wing River townships

o NIMROD Senior Citizen’s Center: Nimrod city, Huntersivlle, Orton and Lyons Townships.

Other Wadena County DFL locations are:

o SEBEKA High School Science room;

o MENAHGA High School FACS Room.

A list of all DFL caucus locations statewide is available at www.dfl.org.

A Constitution Party caucus for Todd and surrounding counties will be held Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Long Prairie City Hall on Highway 71 just north of Coburns,